Fishing float



Feb. 14, 1950 A. H. HAGEN FISHING FLOAT Filed Sept. 8, 1948 w v u.-.\I\\\II.. 5..

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ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT ornce 2,497,356rrsnme rroa'r Arthur H. Hagen, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 8, 1948, Serial No. 48,260

7 Claims. (Cl. 43-4311) This invention concerns fishing floats andparticularly relates to a float which will measure out a predeterminedlength of fishing line to hold the sinker on the line at variousselected depths below the float. More particularly, this inventionrelates to improvements in the type of fishing float shown in mycopending application, Serial No. 760,972, filed July 15, 1947.

A major object of the invention is to provide an improved measuring typefishing float which may be attached to the fishing line while a sinkeror hook is secured to the end of the line.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fishing float which isreadily adjustable to hold a sinker at any pre-selected distance fromthe float and which is compact and of sturdy construction to insure thelong life of the float.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved float whichwill remain-on the line and still permit a sinker or hook at the end ofthe line to be reeled in close to the end of the rod and which does notmaterially drag on the line or interfere with movement of the line.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following specification taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation 'of a preferred embodiment of the inventionshowing a fishing float attached to a fishing line with a sinker loweredinto the water;

- Fig. is a front elevation of the float shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line -3--3 of Fig. l; v

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view similar to Figure 3 but on anenlarged scale to more clearly show the rotatable parts of theinvention; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the fishingfloat shown in the accompanying drawing, a main float section has atrack at one end of which is supported a bear ing to rotatably carry athreaded shaft extending along the track. At the otherend of the track,a cap-on the shaft is rotatablymounted in the track. The other end ofthe shaft, extending thr'c'ugh'the bearing beyond the track, carries acylindrical float section rotatable with the shaft. A peripheral groovearound the cylindrical float section receives the flshing'line, and lineguides are carried by the main float section and posibut is preventedfrom rotation relative to the track. Therefore, relative rotation of thefloat sections causes longitudinal movement of the stop member along thetrack. As the line is reeled in or out, the rotatable section turns andcauses axial movement of the stop member. After a selected length ofline has passed through the guides, the stop member engages a stopengaging member which prevents further sliding movement of the stopalong the track and thereby prevents further relative rotation of thefloat sections. Thus, the sinker is automatically lowered to apredetermined length below the float.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawing. The fishing float illustrated in thedrawing has a main float section H of semi cylindrical shape. Extendingalong the flat surface l2 of the main float section is a track,designated generally at I3, having parallel spaced sides l4 and I5integrally joined together by an end member l6 at one end and havingtheir other ends overlapping, as shown at ll. The track is carried onthe main float section II by prongs l8 and I9, which are pressed fromthe side l5 and embedded in the main section H. The track [3 is soarranged on the main section II that it extends longitudinally thereof.

A ball bearing race i9 is mounted at one end:

of the track and includes ball bearings 2|, which support a threadedshaft 22 and allow it to freely rotate relative to the track and to themain section ll. At the end of the threaded shaft, op posite to thebearing IS, the threaded shaft is provided with a cap 23 having aperipheral groove which is received by the end member l6 of the track topermit rotation of the cap but prevents longitudinal movement of the capand. the shaft. The other end of the shaft '22 extends through thebearing l9 and. has fixed thereon a cylindrical float section 24 whichrotates with the shaft. To space the cylindrical float section 24fromthe main float section II and the track l3, a spacing sleeve 25 ispositioned in a recess 26 in the face of the cylindrical float section24 and bearing against one of the ends of the track which joins theparallel sides of the track at the bearing l9.

; Thecylindrical float section 24 is provided with a peripheral groove21 adapted toreceive a loop of the fishing line 28, as most clearlyindicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. To guide the loop of the line which ridesin they groove Zl, a pair of spiral fishing line guides 29 and 3| arecarried by brackets 32 and 33 extending upwardly from the main it passesaround the groove '21 of the cylindrical float section 24.

A stop member 34 is threaded on the shaft 22,

like a nut, and has a projecting lug 35 slidable along a guideway in theform of a slot 36 formed. Withthis arrangein the side 14 of the tracki3. ment, relative rotation of the float sections, causesturningmovement of the threaded shaft 22 which thereby causes longitudinalsliding movement of the stop member 34 along the track l3. the stopmember reaches one end of the track, itsfurther longitudinal slidingmovement is prevented, thereby arresting further relative rotation ofthefloat sectionsin the same direction. Of course, the direction ofrotation of the-float sections may be reversedand the stop member movedin the opposite direction toward the other end of the track.

To place this measuring fishing float on the fishing line, the end ofthe line nearest the rod is first inserted in the spiral guide 3 i, thenpassed once around the groove 2"! inzthe cylindrical float section 24,and then inserted in the spiral guide 29, letting the freehend of theline pass to the sinker. Before attaching the line, the floatsectionsshould be 'turnedrelative to one another to position projectinglug 35 on the stop member 3'4 opposite the appropriate indication of thedepth to which it is desired for the sinker to descend belowthersurface' of the water. As seen in Fig. 1,

variousdepths are marked on .the track I3. Then,

after the line is applied to the float, with the sinker near theguide-'29, the line may be played outandthe sinker will descend, at thesame time turning the cylindrical float section .24 relative to the mainfloat section H, thereby turning the threaded shaft 2i. and causing thestop member 3 4 to slide 'alongthe track toward the cylindrical floatsection. When the stop member 34 engages the bearing 1'9, furthermovement of the stop member 3% will be arrested and further rotation ofthe cylindrical-float member will be prevented. The indicia ontheytrackis so calibrated that rotation of the cylindrical float member2% will be stopped when the line has been played out an amountcorresponding to the-original setting of.

the lug 35-onthe stop member 34.

Another important feature of the invention is the fact that thismeasuring float member permits the line to be reeled in until the sinkeris almost at theend of the rod, the float actually moving along thellinetoward'the sinker during the reeling inoperation.

By the present invention, I have provided a' fishing'float of themeasuring type which is of compact construction as all of the parts arecone tained within; the, dimensions of the two float sections. Byproviding a bearing for .the threaded shaft and'supporting thecylindrical. float section on tha't shaft, a very durable constructionis made possible an'd'the ireerotation of the parts avoids thepossibility 'Ofth float dragging on the line.

What is claimed is:

1. A fishing float comprising a main float section, .a cylindrical floatsection, means rotatably mounting. said cylindrical float section When 1on said main float section, a track carried by said main float section,a screw carried by said cylindrical float section and extending axiallyfrom said cylindrical float section along said track, a stop memberthreaded on said screw and slidable along said track but held againstrotation relative thereto, and stop engaging means on said track toarrest movement of said member and thereby prevent relative rotation ofsaid float. sections.

2. A fishing float comprising a main float section, a cylindrical floatsection, means rotatably mounting said cylindrical float section I on.said main float section, said cylindrical float section being providedwith a peripheral groove receiving a fishing line, line guiding meanscarried by said main float section and positioned adjacent the groove onsaid cylindrical float section, a track on said main float section, ascrew carried by said cylindrical float section and extending axiallyfrom said cylindrical float section along said track, a stop memberthreaded" on said screw so relative rotation of said float sectionscauses slidingmovement of said stop along said. track, said stop beingengaged by said track for preventing rotation relative thereto, and stopengaging means on said track to arrest movement. of said member andthereby prevent relative rotation of said float sections.

3. A fishing float comprisinga main float section, a cylindrical float:section, means rotatably mounting said cylindrical float section onsaid main float section, a track carried 'by said main float section, ascrew carried by said cylindrical float section and extending axiallyfrom said cylindrical float section along'said track, a stop memberthreaded on: said screw and slidable along said track butheld againstrotation relative thereto, andstop engaging means on said track forengaging said stop to arrest sliding movement thereof along said trackand thereby prevent'relative rotation of said float sections;

4. A fishing float comprising a mainfloat section, a track'carried bysaid main float section; a bearing carried by said main float'section atone end oi. said track, a threaded shaft extending along said track androtatable in said bearing, a cylindrical float section mounted on saidshaft, and a stop memberthreaded on said shaft and slidable along saidtrack to engage said bearing, said stop member'having a projectionengaged with said track to preventv rotation relative thereto.

5. Av fishing float comprising a main float section, a track carried bysaid main float section, a bearing carried by said main float section atone .end of said track, a threaded shaft extending along said track androtatable in said bearing, a cylindrical .float section mounted on saidshaft for rotation therewith, said cylindrical float section beingprovided withaperipheral groove for receiving. a fishing line, guidemeans carried by said main. float .sectionnand positioned ad jacent saidgroove .for guiding the fishing line thereon, and a. stop memberthreaded on said shaft for movement along said track to engage saidbearing upon :relative rotation of said float sections, said stop:member being provided with a projection for engaging said track toprevent rotation relative thereto. 4

6. A fishing float comprising a main float section, atrack carriedbyisaidmainpfloa't section,

' a hearing at :oneend oisaid track, a; threaded.

shaft rotatable in said bearing and extending along said track, a cap onthe end of said shaft rotatable'in the other end of said track toprevent movement of said shaft longitudinally of said track, acylindrical float section rotatably mounted on said shaft beyond saidtrack, and a stop member slidable along said track and threaded on saidshaft whereby relative rotation of said float sections causeslongitudinal movement of said stop member to engage said bearing.

7. A fishing float comprising a main float section, atrack carried byaid main float section, a bearing carried by said main float section atone end'of said track, a shaft extendin along said track and rotatablein said bearing, one end of said shaft being provided with a caprotatable inithe other end of said track to prevent longitudinalmovement of said shaft relative to said track. the other end of saidshaft carrying a cylindrical float section rotatable therewith, saidcylindrical float section being provided with a peripheral groove forreceiving a fishing line, guide means carried by said main float sectionand positioned adjacent said groove, and a stop member siidable alongsaid track and threaded orisaid shaft whereby relative rotation of saidfloat section causes movement of said stop memher along said track toengage said bearing.

ARTHUR H. HAGEN.

No references cited.

